How did the WNBA handle Brittney Griner's gender-related eligibility discussions?
Executive summary
The WNBA did not initiate any league-wide “sex testing” policy nor did it suspend Brittney Griner over questions of her sex or gender; multiple fact-checks and reporting found the viral 2025 claims were false [1] [2] [3]. Griner has long been the target of speculation about gender from fans and commentators, but the league’s public record shows no new eligibility enforcement directed at her in 2025 [2] [4].
1. Origin and spread of the 2025 rumor
In August 2025 a wave of social posts claimed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had “revealed” Griner’s sex and that the WNBA would impose mandatory gender verification; that narrative spread widely online but independent searches and reporting found no credible media or official source to back it up [5] [1].
2. Fact‑checks and the WNBA’s public stance
Established fact‑checking outlets and multiple debunks concluded the claims were false: Snopes and Yahoo’s fact check reported no evidence the WNBA announced mandatory testing or suspended Griner, and noted inquiries to the league and Griner’s representatives produced no confirmation of such actions [1] [2] [5].
3. What the WNBA actually did — nothing new on eligibility
Available reporting about the incident documents absence rather than a new policy: the WNBA did not, in fact, institute league‑wide gender verification in 2025 and did not discipline Griner on that basis, meaning the league’s public response amounted to non‑action against the viral allegation [3] [6].
4. The long shadow: historical speculation about Griner’s gender
This episode built on longstanding public speculation; Griner has been subject to crude questions about her sex for years and has acknowledged being mocked about appearing masculine, a history that fact‑checkers referenced while debunking the newer claims [2] [4].
5. Broader context — inclusion debates and reporting gaps
The false story landed amid wider national debates about transgender athletes and eligibility rules; commentators note that conversations over whether to prioritize biological sex, self‑identification, or hybrid criteria are ongoing, but the WNBA’s specific handling of Griner’s case in 2025 did not create a new public precedent because the alleged actions never occurred [7] [3].
6. Media reliability, misinformation incentives and the league’s implicit position
The quick proliferation of the claim—and its rapid debunking by multiple outlets—highlights how politically charged actors and partisan amplification can manufacture urgency around sports eligibility; the WNBA’s lack of a dramatic, public enforcement move suggests it preferred to avoid sensationalism and instead let fact‑checking and its silence dissipate the rumor, though reporting limitations mean internal discussions (if any) within the league are not documented in the sources reviewed [1] [2].
7. What remains uncertain
Public sources confirm the 2025 rumor was false but do not produce internal WNBA memos or private conversations, so while it is accurate to say the league did not publicly implement gender testing or suspend Griner, the available reporting cannot speak to any private deliberations the WNBA may have had outside recorded statements [1] [2].